Some advice please...
By taface412
@taface412 (3175)
United States
May 4, 2008 10:21am CST
Okay here is my dilemma. ANd I need a sounding board on this one. I have a degree and I currently work in a field not using this degree. I graduated 8 years ago and over the years I went on countless interviews, which began to frustrate me b/c they always led to no where. I live in a small town where they have the menatlity that you need to know someone or have loads of experience to get a high paying or even a non profit job.
During those interviews (this e.g. comes from the non profit interview from yrs back) I always heard you have too much education for the pay. And when I pointed out I understood I would be underpaid considering my degree that mainly I was after experience. Well, then he asked if I knew this guy who was in his picture frame on his desk (a family friend) b/c I graduated from the same h.s as him aroudn the same yr. I have a feeling if I had said yes (even if it was a lie) I would have got the job.
The other interviewers told me I did not have enough experience. So my question is how does someone get experience if no one will open doors? And is it too late for me to even use my degree? I have considered going back to school for Nursing (as that is a job I know I can get in this area for sure) or continue on the course for interviews again?
The irony is about the pay not matching my degree....well, I ended up taking a minimum wage job to pay my bills over the years and still have not gained any experience in my degree area.
2 responses
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
4 May 08
I have lived in small towns, where everyone knew everyone else, and I was the 'outsider'. And, wrong or right, the politics of it is who you know, not what you know. You don't say what your degree is for, but you might check into doing some volunteer work, you also don't state how long you have lived in this small town, have you lived there all your life, or somewhere that you moved to after college? If you have lived there all your life, then right or wrong, start making contacts, start pulling strings, that's the only way you'll get in to the job that suits your degree. If you haven't lived there long, start volunteering, go to any social events where you can meet people. The only reason I 'fit' in was because my dad was originally from the neighboring county! lol so he was a 'local' boy lol, so yeah, after that I was accepted into the community. It's all in the politics of it, and most small towns, communities are very political in the sense that if you are not from there, you'll always be an 'outsider'. It's all in who you meet, and can get in with. Good Luck. I have a degree that I earned 20 years ago, and have never worked in a job pertaining to it, but I found my path through volunteering with a fire department, and now work for the forestry service.
@taface412 (3175)
• United States
4 May 08
Oh, sorry I grew up here. And moved back here after I got my English degree. But I never got into the whole networking thing...but i have through the job I am at now. In fact, I pretty much have decided to go back for my Nursing degree (only two years more). The only prob is affording it. By now my costs are down and I plan on pursuing it next year. I even thought of going for my Teacher's certification (another 14-24 months) just for the benfits alone. But I love working in the healthcare field.
Thanks for your advice and reassuring me that degrees are not wasted.
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
4 May 08
No education is ever wasted. Another thing you might try is signing up to be a substitute teacher, I did that for over a year, and it was great, not sure what it pays now, but then it was $40 a day, that was without a teaching degree.
@taface412 (3175)
• United States
4 May 08
I have thought about substituting and may do that. My problem is transportation right now. I have no car of my own and do good to get to my regular job. But as soon as I do I am checking that out.
Who do you contact? The board of education I suppose, am I right?
@ayush2008 (58)
• India
5 May 08
hey friend...really feel sorry on hearing ur story but please by getting depressed you wil lend up no where.....always mind a failed interview teached you something u have to learn the right think...what i will suggest you that again fade up your all bad thinking and start thinking from a fresh end.
@taface412 (3175)
• United States
6 May 08
oh I am past the depression point...in fact I think went through all of the stages. And if this was written yrs ago you would probably think that I was crazy. I know my positives in this situation and I know what holds me back. And thanks for the advice and you are right I need a fresh start on this.
And I know life is much more than degrees, and high earnings. So, I think I already had my mind made up I was just seeing what everyone else had to say.
And yes that interview taught me for a nonprofit organization they had some good ole boy values...and I was actually happy I didn't end up working for a place like that...it would have compromised my ethics.
